Storage cabinet



June 11, 1963 H. s. LANIER STORAGE CABINET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 29, 1962 INVENTOR. U #42010 .S. [AN/2 WM ATTORNEYS.

June 11, 1963 H. s. LANIER 3,093,428

STORAGE CABINET Filed Jan. 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR H2010 S. zA/v/ze ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,093,428 STORAGE CABINET Harold S. Lanier, Welcome, N.C., assignor to La-Chap, Inc., Welcome, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Jan. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 169,971 1 Claim. (Cl. 312255) FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of one form of pivot means adapted to pivot the internal bin to the sides of the cabinet.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 66 of FIGURE 4 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 4 but disclosing a modified and less expensive form of tractive external appearance, and which may store and An additional object of the invention is the provision of such a cabinet wherein the top wall is fixed and stationary, and access is had thereto by rotation of the front wall, which comprises an integral part of an internal storage bin carrying the articles to be stored.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a storage bin which is rotatable about an axis relatively adjacent the center of the records or other articles stored therein so that the same may be moved with a minimum of difficulty.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character so arranged that when the cabinet is open the weight of the records or other articles contained in the internal bin will serve to hold the same in open position.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of spring means, if desired, for holding the cabinet in closed position when empty.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of a spring catch or the like which will retain the front of the cabinet normally in closed position regardless of the weight of the contents thereof.

A further and more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a bin of this character provided with special pivot means, which present a smooth internal surface so as to obviate the scratching of records or other articles positioned near the side walls of the bin.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of stop means for retaining the bin in a partially tilted open position so as to be readily accessible, and further stop means retaining the bin in upright position when the front of the cabinet is closed by the front of the bin.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, assemble, and utilize.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be point-ed out as the description of the invention proceeds, and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there are disclosed preferred embodiments of this inventive concept.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one form of cabinet embodying features of the instant invention, shown in closed position.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1 showing the cabinet in closed position in full lines, and in open position in dotted lines.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

pivot construction.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawing.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, one form of cabinet constructed in accordance with the instant invention is generally indicated at 10, and comprises a stationary or fixed top 11, a front panel 12 having a relatively large rectangular aperture therein, end walls 14, a rear wall 15, and an open bottom 16 which is provided along its front and rear edges with flanges or panels 17 and 18, respectively, to which may be affixed removable front and rear legs 19 and 20, respectively, if desired.

A bin, generally indicated at 25, includes a front wall 26 which seats snugly within the opening 13, and which hold the cabinet front 26 in closed position.

Bin 25 also includes a bottom wall 31, a partial rear wall 32, and'end walls 33 which incline, as best shown in FIGURE 2, toward the top of tiltable front panel 26, the inclination being indicated by the dotted line at 34. When the structure is used for records, suitable record dividers 35 of a configuration substantially identical to that of the side walls 33 are provided.

The entire bin is adapted to be pivoted to the dotted line position of FIGURE 2 when the latch member 28 is released, in which position front wall 26 is inclined upwardly, and retained in the inclined position by means of a rubber stop bumper 37 carried by each of a pair of blocks 38 positioned near the rear panel 17. Similar rubber stops 39 restrict the rearward movement of the bin 25 to a position wherein the front wall or closure is vertical. The lower portion of front wall panel 12 is beveled as at 40, and the lower portion of front panel 26 is recessed as at 41, as best shown in FIGURE 2 to insure a smooth and harmonious appearance when the panel is in closed position.

The pivot assembly is generally indicated at 45, and is located slightly below and in front of the center 46 of records '47, so that the tendency of the records when the latch 28 is released, is to tilt the cabinet to open position or dotted line position indicated in FIGURE 2. When the bin 25 is empty, the weight of front panel 26 serves normally to tilt the assembly to open position, and consequently the catch 28 retains the door or tiltable panel '26 in closed position.

FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 disclose in detail a preferred form of pivot assembly 45. Pivot assembly 45 is comprised of a nylon pivot bearing socket 46 which is seated in a recess 47 in each end wall 14 of the cabinet. As best shown in FIGURE 5, the bearing socket includes inclined guide ledges 48 adjacent the top thereof, which terminate in a recessed depression 49 to facilitate the assembly of the smooth end 50 of a pivot bolt 51 when the cabinet is initially assembled. Flanges 52 extendtransversely of the socket 46 and are provided with openings for the reception of nails or screws 53 for securing the assembly in position in the side wall of the cabinet. The adjacent side wall 33 of the tiltable bin is provided with a bore 54 extending entirely therethrough, within which is positioned a pivot support nut 55 internally threaded to accommodate the threaded portion of bolt 51. It is to be noted in this construction that the bolt 51 is headless and provided with a screwdriver slot 56 which permits the bolt to be inserted in nut 55 completely so as to provide a smooth and flush inner side wall 33 to preclude any possibility of damage to the records or other contents of the cabinet. A square plate 57 is formed, in this modification, integrally with the nut 54 and is provided with corner openings for the reception of bolts, screws or nails 58. A suitable lock nut 60 is threaded on the threaded portion of bolt 51 immediately adjacent the plate 57 for securing the bolt in a proper position within the socket of the nut 54.

A modified form of pivot assembly which employs standard parts instead of the custom parts of the previous modification, is generally indicated at 61, and is characterized by a standard nylon bushing 62 positioned in a bore 63 in the end wall 14 of the cabinet. The interior of bushing 62 is smooth, and has rotatably mounted therein the end of a standard bolt 64, which extends through a standard threaded T-nut 65 positioned in a bore 66 in end wall 33 of the bin. A rectangular plate 67 having a central aperture 68 therein is provided to reinforce T-nut 65, plate 67 being secured in position by means of bolts, screws or nails 69. A lock nut 70 is provided in a position and for a purpose similar to that of lock nut 60 previously described. In this modification a countersunk opening 71 is formed in the side Wall 33 on the inner side thereof to accommodate the head 72 of bolt 64. In this construction, however, it is dilficult to recess the head 72 sufliciently to prevent projection of a portion thereof which may have a tendency to damage the records or other material contained in the bin. This pivot construction is, however, less costly than that of the modification of FIG- URE 4 since all standard parts are employed.

From the foregoing the operation of the device should now be readily understandable. With the device in the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 2, individual records, record albums, or the like, are positioned in vertical relation between the end walls 33 and the dividers 35, in such numbers as it may be desired. The door or panel 26 is then swung about the pivot assembly 45 or 61 as the case may be to closed position, in which position it is retained by means of the spring catch 28 and the detent 29. Obviously, when it is desired to remove a record, catch 28 is released by means of operating member 30, and the door or panel 26 pulled outwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 2. In this position the individual records or albums contained between the inclined end walls and the dividers are readily available for removal or replacement.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided an improved record cabinet which accomplishes all the objects of this invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

It is to be understood that while the device hereinbefore described is particularly suitable for use as a record cabinet, it may be readily adapted by minor variations in shape or size to the retention of books, files, or other articles of a similar nature as desired.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

In a storage cabinet for phonograph records or the like, the combination of an outer storage cabinet comprised of a fixed top, a rear wall, end walls, a leg supponting bottom structure and a front wall having a central opening there in, a storage bin comprised of a front closure panel dimensioned to fit within said central opening and conforming in appearance to said front wall, a relatively short rear wall, a bottom and forwardly and upwardly inclined end walls, means pivoting said end walls of said bin to the end walls of said cabinet at a point slightly beneath and forwardly of the normal center of gravity of said bin to reduce the effort of opening the bin to minimum, said means pivoting said end walls of said bin to said end walls of said cabinet comprising a nylon bearing socket in a countersunk bore in each cabinet end wall, a pivot support nut in a bore extending through each end wall of said bin, a bolt threaded into said support nut and having its end extending into said bearing socket, a lock washer on said bolt between said pivot support nut and said bushing, the end of said bolt extending into said socket unthreaded, the opposite end headless and provided with a screwdriver slot, and said pivot bearing socket is provided with an external plate having inclined guide flanges thereon to facilitate the alignment of the unthreaded end of said bolt with said socket during assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 563,493 Kruedelbach July 7, 1896 1,184,060 Yerkes et a1 May 23, 1916 1,316,395 Sharlow Sept. 16, 1919 1,403,482 Breitman Jan. 17, 1922 2,409,308 Paxton Oct. 15, 1946 2,525,446 Carbary Oct. 10, 1950 2,724,945 McGhee Nov. 29, 1955 2,749,202 Ritzerfeld June 5, 1956 2,785,036 Elsden-King Mar. 12, 1957 

